Hot rod or hot dog? The drivers’ performances analysed... (Part three)

Part three finds us with the new teams and one interloper. We're looking at you, Ferrari...

To be honest, he may as well have lined up like this... credit: Sutton Images/Autosport

Ferrari

• Qualifying: Alonso (3^rd) Massa (7^th)
• Race: Alonso (14^th) Massa (15^th)

Another dog of a weekend for the boys in red.

Alonso, after qualifying very well, got off the line so slowly (a problem with the clutch apparently, not his fault…) that he was passed by any number of cars. Then, after passing Kubica while off the track, he was instructed to let Kubica back through, but Kubica was in the process of retiring from the race. He was then given a drive-through penalty instead which coincided with a safety car, equalling a very unhappy Spaniard. In this instance, we at Badger feel sorry for him. It feels wrong. Let’s never speak of this again.

A puncture at the beginning of the race ruined Massa’s efforts and he also spent the afternoon trailing round towards the back. They just can’t quite get it together can they?

Badger thought for the day: If Alonso didn’t clearly want an inferior driver alongside him, would Massa have signed a two year contract recently?

Badger’s best: Alonso

Lotus

• Qualifying: Kovalainen (18^th) Trulli (21^st)
• Race: Trulli (16^th) Kovalainen (17^th)

Fastest of the new teams yet again, the Lotus team will certainly be looking to make inroads next season, especially if a rumoured engine deal with Renault comes off.

Trulli endured a nightmare before qualifying, with his car spending most of the time in the garage being tended to by loving mechanics. We’ll leave it to the man himself to explain what happened: “my pace felt very good, especially when you consider that I didn't have a chance to work on any set up changes, and I had to get used to the new section of the track in qualifying and during the first part of the race, so I think we all did a pretty good job!” We at Badger agree Jarno.

Kovalainen bemoaned that he wasn’t able to push flat out again because of the traffic (we assume he means people passing him, although we’re not sure, he could mean Glock), although fastest of the new team in qualifying isn’t to be sniffed at.

Badger’s best: Trulli

Virgin

• Qualifying: Glock (19^th) di Grassi (22^nd)
• Race: Glock (18^th) di Grassi (ret)

Another race, another retirement and more disappointment.

Glock did a fairly good job in the race to mix it with the Lotuses, but di Grassi continues to disappoint. If we’d had to bet on a driver being kicked out of the new teams, we’d have gone with him rather than Senna, but then what do we know? Quite.

Not really much more to say; di Grassi thinks the car’s improving, which is nice we suppose.

Badger’s best: Glock (but really the mechanics)

HRT

• Qualifying: Chandhok (23^rd) Yamamoto (24^th)
• Race: Chandhok (19^th) Yamamoto (20^th)

We don’t really know what’s going on here. Senna’s out, but then he’s back for the next race? Is it cash flow problems? Has he said something? What’s going on?

Anyway, his replacement, Yamamoto, he of a not terribly notable F1 career thus far, stepped into the breach and was, as expected, slow. Both he and Chandhok trailed round at the back, Chandhok was slightly faster, and there’s nothing much more to say.

Badger’s best: Chandhok

Read Part One here and check out Part Two as well.  Our Driver of the day to follow to follow shortly...